The Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest
St Charles’ Church in Vienna
St Michael’s Watchtower in Bratislava
A French Balcony Cabin
The Delta Restaurant
Enjoy delicious cuisine at the Panorama Restaurant
Dine with a view at the Panorama Restaurant
Belvedere Lounge
Relax in the Belvedere Lounge
City Explorer: Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna 2027 aboard Spirit of the Danube with Budapest City Stay
The Danube
Explore Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna…
Enjoy a three-night stay at a locally rated 4-star hotel in Budapest before embarking on a five night, all-inclusive river cruise in 2027 along the Danube. See some of Budapest’s most iconic attractions at your leisure and visit the UNESCO-listed Hungarian Parliament Building on an excursion. A Saga Tour Manager will be on hand at the hotel to help you make the most of your visit. You may choose to walk to Hero’s Square and the City Park to explore Vajdahunyad Castle and Szcecheny Baths, or take the metro to the Opera House to visit this impressive building.
Next, embark Spirit of the Danube and enjoy a tour of both sides of Budapest. Perhaps explore further independently and see more of the city’s highlights such as Heroes Square and St Stephens Basilica. Then, spend a morning cruising the Danube, enjoying the picturesque scenery of the Danube Bend. Arrive in the small town of Esztergom, home to Hungary’s largest basilica, the dome of which can be seen for miles.
Sail overnight to spend another full day in a historic capital city, Bratislava, where you can join a local guide and see more of the city by Land Train, before disembarking in the grounds of Bratislava Castle and the Old Town to explore further on foot. Then, sail overnight into Austria and on towards Vienna, where you can discover some of the highlights, including the Ringstrasse and architecture of the Opera House, during a tour.
Included excursion in every port
Itinerary
Mamaison Andrassy Hotel
Travel to Budapest and stay three nights at the locally rated 4-star Mamaison Andrassy Hotel near the city centre. Dinner is included tonight and the rest of your stay is on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
This morning, visit the UNESCO-listed Hungarian Parliament Building on an included excursion. A return transfer service is available after your visit, or you can choose to remain on the banks of the Danube and explore further at leisure, making your own way back to your hotel later in the day.
Included excursion
Explore the Hungarian Parliament Building, one of the most important landmarks in Budapest. Set on the banks of the Danube River, its Neo-Gothic towers, golden interior and vast halls make it an architectural masterpiece.
Enjoy a day at leisure to discover more of this cultural city. Perhaps head to the Hungarian State Opera House, an elaborate Neo-Renaissance building, whose interior is equally as impressive as its exterior. Its rich decor displays elements of Baroque. The building features statues of composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Verdi, while inside Italian marble covers the Foyer, the red-carpeted Grand Staircase is overlooked by four huge marble statues, the Auditorium features gilded boxes and the monumental circular ceiling is decorated with a fresco by Károly Lotz.
Optional excursion
Enjoy Hungarian cuisine, accompanied by local wine and traditional live music and dancing at the atmospheric Szeged Restaurant.
Spirit of the Danube
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and spend the morning and lunchtime at leisure in the city, before boarding Spirit of the Danube later this afternoon. Your all-inclusive cruise begins with dinner tonight.
Budapest is a city made up of two parts: Buda and Pest, built on opposite banks of the Danube. The cities have been officially united since 1873, but they are still very different in character. Buda is the older and more graceful, with its cobbled streets, medieval architecture and UNESCO-listed Buda Castle, while Pest is the administrative and commercial centre, with wide avenues and 19th-century public buildings.
Included excursion
Enjoy an included coach tour of the city with the opportunity to alight at Heroes Square and the St Stephen’s Basilica to explore briefly on foot.
Depart Budapest, 0600.
Scenic Cruise, Danube Bend.
Arrive Esztergom, 1300. Depart 1800.
Following an early departure from Budapest spend the morning cruising along the scenic Danube Bend. The small town of Esztergom is home to Hungary’s largest basilica, the dome of which can be seen for miles. The first Hungarian king, St Stephen, was born and crowned in Esztergom. Sail overnight.
Included excursion
Board the land train for a short journey from the pier to the Esztergom Basilica with a local guide. Esztergom was the capital of Hungary from the tenth until the mid-13th century when King Béla IV of Hungary moved the Royal seat to Buda. Its cathedral, Esztergom Basilica, is the second largest church and tallest building in Hungary. Expect to walk up to one mile during this included excursion.
Arrive 0900. Depart 2200.
The old town of Slovakia’s capital is easily explored on foot. The ancient cobbled streets lead to Bratislava Castle, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the city. The Gothic-style Cathedral is where eleven Kings of Hungary were crowned while Turks occupied their own capital. Sail overnight.
Included excursion
Join a local guide to see Bratislava by Land Train, disembarking to explore the grounds of Bratislava Castle and the Old Town on foot.
Arrive 0800.
Vienna is the capital of Austria: home to the waltz, coffee houses, the Prater wheel and one of the world’s finest opera houses. It is the city where Marie Antoinette grew up and where Mozart died, and for 600 years was the centre of the Hapsburg Empire. Following an included tour you may choose to stay in Vienna and explore further independently. Perhaps head to the Museum Quarter, home to over 50 cultural institutions, such as the Leopold Museum. A complimentary return transfer service will be provided later in the afternoon.
Included excursion
Explore the city of Vienna on either a panoramic coach tour or a combined coach and walking tour to see some of the highlights, including the Ringstrasse and Opera House.
Optional excursions
Visit Schönbrunn Palace on an optional excursion and perhaps enjoy an optional evening concert in Vienna.
Disembark Spirit of the Danube after breakfast and begin the return journey.
Including...
Nationwide shared chauffeur service
1 night Half Board and 2 nights Bed and Breakfast in a hotel
5 nights All inclusive† on board the ship
Saga Tour Manager at the hotel
Cruise Director
Plus…
- Drinks reception and Gala dinner
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- All gratuities on board
- Return flights and transfers
Included excursion in every port
Find out more about when excursions are available to book.
†The included drinks are available on board from 9am to midnight and include non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Excludes branded spirits. This begins at 4pm on day 1 of your river cruise to the day before your cruise ends.
Mamaison Andrassy Hotel
Find out more about your hotel.
Mamaison Andrassy Hotel
Stay at the locally rated 4-star Mamaison Andrassy Hotel has a central location in Budapest on Andrassy Boulevard, which leads to Heroes’ Square. Medieval Vajdahunyad Castle and the grand, Neo-Baroque style Szechenyi Thermal Baths are less than a mile away. While the Hungarian State Opera House, St Stephen’s Basilica and Hungarian Parliament Building are less than two miles away.
Accommodation
The boutique-style hotel features modern amenities in a Bauhaus-style building. There are 68 rooms of which the deluxe bedrooms are equipped for double or twin occupancy and include a private bathroom with a bath and an overhead shower, while the smaller classic bedrooms are equipped for double or single occupancy and include a private bathroom with a shower only. All rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi, flat screen television, minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities, air conditioning and a fridge. Bedroom views will be of Andrassy Avenue, a courtyard or side street.
Facilities
There is one restaurant, the Andrassy Garden Restaurant, which serves buffet breakfasts. An á la carte menu with modern Hungarian bistro dishes is available at dinner for an extra charge. There is a 24-hour reception, room service and a concierge. The hotel’s bar and restaurant is the ideal place to enjoy a relaxing drink after a day of exploring Budapest.